Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act
Sponsored By: Representative Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
Introduced
Summary
Direct disaster relief for timber harvesters and haulers. This bill would create a USDA payment program, run by the Farm Service Agency, to compensate timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses for revenue losses caused by major disasters.
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- Timber harvesting and hauling businesses: Businesses that harvested or hauled unrefined timber in the previous year would qualify if a major disaster causes at least a 10% drop in gross revenue compared to the same period in the prior year. Payments would equal 10% of gross revenue for the affected period and may be used only for operating expenses.
- Administration and transparency: The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Farm Service Agency, would run the program, issue regulations within 30 days without notice-and-comment or Paperwork Reduction Act review, and must report to House and Senate agriculture committees within 180 days and annually, listing each recipient and payment amount.
*Authorizes $50 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to carry out the program.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Disaster payments for timber businesses
This bill would create payments for timber harvesting and hauling businesses after a declared major disaster, including insect outbreaks. To qualify, you must have harvested or hauled unrefined timber last year and lost at least 10% of gross revenue in a 30-day period or a quarter versus the same time last year. The payment would equal 10% of your gross revenue for that period, and you must certify you will use it only for operating expenses. USDA’s Farm Service Agency would run the program, set rules within 30 days (without the usual notice-and-comment and paperwork steps), and report recipient names and payment amounts to Congress within 180 days and yearly. The bill would authorize $50 million each year for fiscal years 2026-2029.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
ME • D
Cosponsors
Stauber
MN • R
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov